1860 US Census, Coldwater, Branch Co, MI
Harkness, William, age 41, carpenter, born in NY
Harkness, Betsy A., age 38, born in NY
Harkenss, Mariann, age 13, born in MI
Harkness, Edwin, age 9
Harkness, Eunice/Emma??, age 5
Harkness, Phillip, age 9 months

An ancestry.com database on Civil War Soldiers says William Harkness of Bethel enlisted 22 Aug 1862 as a corporal at age 43. Assigned to company M (Capt. Frederick A. Copeland) of 5th Cavalry Regiment of Michigan (Col. Joseph T. Copeland). On July 5th, battle at Monterey, MD, was taken POW. Died 02 August 1863 at Annapolis. [Probably at Camp Parole in Annapolis, where paroled Union soldiers waited to be exchanged for Confederates who had been likewise captured and paroled.]

She applied for a Widow's pension on 9 December 1863 (application 40,516, certificate 61519. His unit is listed as the 5th Michigan Cavalry.

↑ From obituary of Betsey Harkness, Coldwater Republican, Tues. 5 May 1885: "Her husband, Mr. Wm Harkness, died in defence of his country at Annapolis, Md, in 1863; he was a member of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry."